Last Updated September 17, 2026
Conditions Center · Cardiovascular · Social Security Disability
Also called coronary heart disease, ischemic heart disease, atherosclerotic heart disease (CAD).
Coronary artery disease can support an SSDI or SSI claim when ischemia, angina, complications, or treatment effects prevent sustained work. SSA looks beyond the presence of plaque or a history of revascularization. The record must show the current severity, symptoms despite prescribed treatment, and either the findings required by Listing 4.04 or functional limits that rule out substantial work.
What is Coronary Artery Disease?
Coronary artery disease develops when plaque narrows or blocks arteries that supply the heart muscle. Reduced blood flow may cause exertional chest discomfort, shortness of breath, or fatigue, although some people have few warning symptoms before a heart attack. Treatment may include medicines, risk-factor management, angioplasty and stenting, or coronary bypass surgery.
Common symptoms of Coronary Artery Disease
- Chest pressure, tightness, heaviness, or burning with exertion
- Shortness of breath or unusual fatigue
- Pain or discomfort extending to an arm, shoulder, jaw, neck, or back
- Dizziness, nausea, or sweating during ischemic episodes
- Reduced stamina after a heart attack or cardiac procedure
How can Coronary Artery Disease affect a person’s ability to work?
- Reduced tolerance for walking, lifting, climbing, or rapid production work
- Need to stop activity when angina or breathlessness begins
- Difficulty with temperature extremes or unusually stressful physical demands
- Time away from work for cardiac rehabilitation, procedures, or recurrent symptoms
- Safety limits when dizziness or medication-related low blood pressure occurs
Does Social Security have a Listing for Coronary Artery Disease?
Social Security currently has listing criteria that may apply: 4.04 (Ischemic heart disease). Meeting a listing requires the specific medical findings in that listing, not only the diagnosis.
Coronary artery disease is commonly evaluated as ischemic heart disease under Listing 4.04. A prior heart attack, stent, bypass operation, or angiogram showing narrowing does not by itself establish every listing criterion.
Listing 4.04 addresses ischemic heart disease with symptoms due to myocardial ischemia while on prescribed treatment. Its alternative pathways use specific exercise-test findings, qualifying ischemic episodes, or angiographic evidence combined with very serious limitations in daily activity. SSA decides whether testing is appropriate and medically safe; claimants should not seek testing solely for a disability application. Claims outside the listing proceed through RFC and vocational analysis.
Can you qualify if you do not meet an SSA Listing?
Yes. Many CAD claims do not satisfy a Listing 4.04 pathway but may still be allowed when the supported RFC and vocational factors leave no sustainable work.
What medical evidence may help document Coronary Artery Disease?
- Cardiology notes describing the pattern and frequency of ischemic symptoms
- Electrocardiograms, stress-test reports, or imaging when performed
- Cardiac catheterization or coronary CT angiography reports
- Hospital, stent, bypass, and cardiac-rehabilitation records
- Medication response and documented adverse effects
Testing, imaging, and laboratory studies
- ECG and clinically appropriate stress testing
- Coronary angiography or CT angiography when ordered for medical care
- Echocardiography when heart function or wall motion is at issue
- Laboratory monitoring of cardiovascular risk factors and treatment
The result after treatment matters. A successful stent with restored exercise tolerance may not support ongoing disability, while persistent ischemic symptoms or complications despite treatment may. Records should explain why additional revascularization is not recommended when that issue is relevant.
How SSA may evaluate residual functional capacity
RFC should reflect the exertion that can be repeated safely across a normal schedule. It may also address pace, recovery, environmental exposure, and attendance for continuing cardiac care.
Depending on the evidence, limits may include reduced lifting, standing, walking, and climbing, with avoidance of extreme temperatures or workplace hazards when symptoms could cause sudden incapacity.
Common issues that can weaken a disability claim involving Coronary Artery Disease
Treating a stent or bypass as proof of current disability; relying on an old angiogram without current symptom records; or describing disabling angina without reporting it to treating clinicians.
What may strengthen the medical documentation
A consistent symptom pattern, objective cardiac studies, treatment response, and cardiac-rehabilitation observations can connect the diagnosis to present work capacity.
Coronary Artery Disease and related medical conditions
- Chronic Kidney Disease — Current Listing 6.00 includes separate pathways for ongoing dialysis, kidney transplant, impaired kidney function with complications, and repeated CKD hospitalizations.
- Congestive Heart Failure — Chronic heart failure can reduce exertional capacity and cause fluid buildup. Listing 4.02 requires the specific medical and functional findings in the current cardiovascular rules.
- Diabetes — Diabetes has no standalone adult listing. SSA evaluates its documented effects on other body systems and the combined functional limits those complications cause.
- Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome — POTS is an orthostatic-intolerance syndrome without a dedicated SSA listing. Evaluation centers on objective diagnosis and supported limits from tachycardia, dizziness, syncope, fatigue, and cognitive symptoms.
How Brock & Stout may help
We review coronary-disease records against the current 4.04 pathways and develop the alternative RFC analysis when the listing does not fit. We can also seek missing procedure, rehabilitation, and follow-up records.
Frequently asked questions
No. A stent documents treatment, but SSA evaluates current ischemia, symptoms, treatment response, duration, and remaining work capacity.
SSA generally evaluates qualifying coronary artery disease under Listing 4.04 for ischemic heart disease. The official criteria, not the diagnosis label alone, control.
Related Brock & Stout resources
Related conditions
Related categories
Speak with a Social Security Disability attorney
If Coronary Artery Disease is affecting your ability to work, Brock & Stout can review the claim, look for missing medical evidence, and discuss next steps. We do not charge a fee for SSD representation unless we win.
This page is general educational information about Social Security Disability as of the date of this publication. It is not legal or medical advice, does not create an attorney-client relationship, and does not guarantee results. Eligibility depends on individual facts and current Social Security rules.
